The Important Role Of Pet Safety

Hi, my name is Allison Mayer and welcome to my pet safety blog. If you have pets, it's important to keep them safe at all times. This includes safety inside and outside of the house. Inside the home, it's imperative to keep dangerous or sharp objects off the floor as pets may try to eat them. When your pet is outside, it's essential to keep your pet contained within the boundaries of a fence or your pet may run into the street. Keeping pets safe from illness or disease is also important and that's why you should always schedule annual wellness visits with a veterinarian. I have owned pets for many years and I've also done research and talked to my veterinarian about ways to keep my pets as safe as possible. I hope that by reading my blog, you'll learn how you can keep your pets safe too.

Does Your Cat Have Hyperthyroidism?

Posted on:
15 August 2017

Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland starts releasing too much or its hormone, known as thyroxine. You may have heard of this condition occurring in humans, but it can affect cats, too. In fact, it is the most common endocrine (hormone-related) condition in cats. It's important that you know what the signs of hyperthyroidism are so that you can give your vet a call in a timely manner if you recognize them in your own cat.

Increased Appetite

If your cat suddenly starts eating more, this can be a sign of a thyroid disorder. He or she may finish the bowl of food within minutes and then start begging for more. If you constantly leave your cat a bowl of food to eat free-choice, you might find that it's always empty when you check it whereas it used to always hold some leftovers.

Weight Loss

It may seem surprising that at the same time your cat begins to eat you our of house and home, he or she also begins to lose weight. You may notice your cat's hip bones begin to appear more prominent. His back bone may start to protrude, and you may notice that he feels less hefty when you pick him up.

Increased Thirst

This one goes hand-in-hand with the increased appetite. Your cat may begin slurping down bowls of water rather quickly. They may also come running from across the room, desperate for water, when you turn on a faucet or the shower. With all of this extra drinking comes an increase in urination. You might notice that the litter box is always soaked or that your cat starts urinating outside of the litter box.

More Shedding and Hair Loss

You should be especially concerned if your cat stars shedding excessively at a time of year when shedding is not common. As the shedding continues, the cat's coat may begin to take on a scruffier look. You may even notice patches of hair missing, especially along the back and the base of the tail.

Vomiting

Vomiting is not seen in all cats with hyperthyroidism, but it is seen in many. There are many possible causes of vomiting, from eating too fast to food allergies. Don't assume that all vomiting indicates hyperthyroidism, but if you see vomiting in conjunction with more of the symptoms above, you can consider it further evidence of the condition.

If you suspect your cat may suffer from overproduction of thyroxine, your vet or a local animal hospital can conduct a simple blood test for diagnosis.

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Hi, my name is Allison Mayer and welcome to my pet safety blog. If you have pets, it's important to keep them safe at all times. This includes safety inside and outside of the house. Inside the home, it's imperative to keep dangerous or sharp objects off the floor as pets may try to eat them. When your pet is outside, it's essential to keep your pet contained within the boundaries of a fence or your pet may run into the street. Keeping pets safe from illness or disease is also important and that's why you should always schedule annual wellness visits with a veterinarian. I have owned pets for many years and I've also done research and talked to my veterinarian about ways to keep my pets as safe as possible. I hope that by reading my blog, you'll learn how you can keep your pets safe too.